Click for source A fire and massive explosion destroyed a Vancouver coffee shop and a taco shop, and damaged several other businesses early Wednesday.
Police and fire investigators are treating the incident as very suspicious, said Rob Jones-Cook, captain of the Vancouver fire department. But they were also investigating the possibility it could have been caused by a gas leak in the taco restaurant.
Investigators now believe that initially a fire started inside the Taco Del Mar restaurant at 686 West Broadway Ave., said Jones-Cook.
Then a massive explosion engulfed the neighbouring Starbucks and the taco shop in what witnesses described as a fireball at about 2:30 a.m. PT.
So far, the cause of the fire is not known, but a crew member working on a film set nearby told CBC News he heard breaking glass before the explosion.
Two witnesses told CBC News that immediately after the explosion, they saw a man dressed in dark clothing running from the area. It is not clear if the man was fleeing the explosion or was involved in the incident.
A bus stop in front of the explosion was destroyed, and windows were shattered on several other businesses, including the London Drugs store across the street.
The explosion also blew in a sixth-floor window on the Holiday Inn half a block away where a member of the Canadian military was staying. The hotel manager said the woman was not injured by the glass, but was shocked by the explosion.
At least five businesses were damaged by the explosion and shattered glass was spread for half a block in all directions, and police say it was a miracle that no one was hurt. The incident occurred about one block away from Vancouver General Hospital.
A Starbucks cafe and a Taco Del Mar restaurant were destroyed by the blast Wednesday morning, but nobody was injured.
(CBC)
Previous Topic
Index
